This is extremely problematic advice. Legal emancipation is a serious court proceeding that requires proving that parents are unfit or that the minor is completely self-supporting. Pursuing emancipation solely for financial aid purposes could constitute fraud. Courts don't grant emancipation for financial convenience - it's for situations where minors truly need to be legally separated from their parents. Please don't suggest this as a financial aid strategy.

Thank you for summarizing. I would never want to falsify information - was just trying to understand the system better. The PLUS loan denial strategy sounds promising, along with appealing to the financial aid offices directly. I appreciate everyone's help!

We actually did try calling them once but gave up after being on hold for over an hour. I think I'll try some of these technical solutions first, and if none of them work, we'll have to bite the bullet and wait on hold again. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Yes! We got it to work finally! It was actually a combination of things. First, we had the mother double-check her FSA ID settings to confirm the "No SSN" box was checked. Then we completely logged out, cleared browser cache/cookies, and waited about an hour. When we tried again, we used ALL CAPS for her name as someone suggested. That finally worked! The invitation went through and she was able to contribute her information. Thanks everyone for all your help - this forum saved us!

That's great! Getting confirmation directly from the college's financial aid office is always the best approach. They're familiar with these situations and can guide you through any verification process if it comes up. Best of luck to your stepdaughter with her college journey!

Yes, they've replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI), which uses a modified formula. For a household with a zero-income parent like in this case, the SAI will likely still be very low, possibly zero, which would maximize potential need-based aid. The main difference is that the SAI can actually go as low as -1500 in some cases, which wasn't possible with the old EFC system.

Yes! We got it working and managed to submit yesterday afternoon. Such a relief! Thanks again for your help - that browser switch tip saved us from a very stressful Monday morning. We'll definitely be starting the process much earlier next year!

easier said than done when your trying to get tax info from an ex who wont cooperate until the last minute 🙄

True, family complications make it harder. In that case, you can actually submit with estimated tax info and update it later! Better to get something in by the deadline than miss it completely.

You're correct that merit scholarships are primarily based on academic achievements, not financial need. They're awarded regardless of your SAI. But when schools calculate your total financial aid package, they may factor in merit scholarships you've received when determining how much need-based aid to provide. That's what creates the confusion for many families.

That's exactly why these forums are so helpful! Each school has their own policies that aren't always clear from their websites. Great job being proactive and calling them directly. When you get all your aid packages, you might want to try negotiating with your top choice if another school offered better terms.